Container



Feb. 15, 1938. J. M. HOTHERSALL 2,108,063

v CONTAINER Filed April 11, 1955 -im if. m W.

ATTORNEY v Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNITED srarss saint orrics AmericanCan Company, New York, N. 35., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationApril 11,

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to powder orthe like dispensing containersand has particular reference to a top construction having cooperativelyarranged eccentric devices for opening and closing the dispensingopening or-openings.

.An object of the invention is the provision of an improved topconstruction for a powder or the like dispensing container whereinrotation of an outer top part causes actuation.,of eccentricallydisposed means foropening and closing a dispensing aperture or aperturesin an inner top part through which the contents of the container aredispensed.

Another object isthe provisionof such a dispenser top constructionwherein sifter or pouring perforations in atop part maybe selectivelybrought into or out of registration with corresponding dispensingperforations in another top part for dispensing the container contentsor for closing the container.

Another object is the provision of such a dispenser top constructionwhich'pro'vides a tight and smoothsealing contact between the variousparts without outwardly protruding parts, thereby sealing the containeragainst accidental escape of contents, especially when finely powderedproducts are to be packed therein, while at the same time permittingeasy and smooth opening and closing.

Numerous other objects and advantagesof the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container having a dispenser topconstruction embodying the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the dispenser topillustrated in Fig. 1 showing the dispensing perforations closed or outof regis try, parts of the top-being'broken away;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the dispensing perforationsopen or in registry for a dispensing operation; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view of the upper part of thecontainer and the dispenser top as taken substantially along the line4-4 in Fig. 3.

A preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawingcomprises a container having a cylindrical body I I, closed at itsbottom by a bottom end i2 secured to the body in any suitable manner. Atits upper end the body is closed by a cover or breast l3 having 2.depending 1935, Serial No. 15,872 (Cl. 221-454) annular flange or wall Mwhich frictionally engages or slips over a reduced or necked in wallpart l5 formed in the upper end of the body. The breast !3 above theflange l 4 extends inwardly and upwardly to provide a tapered wall partl3a, a curved wall part or channel l8 and a vertical Wall part Hi. Thislatter wall section merges. into a substantially flat horizontal top 2|which constitutes the stationary or fixed member of the dispenser topconstruction. It will be readily seen that instead of having a separatecover or breast the body It may be directly provided with a top walllike wall 2|.

A movable member or closure of the dispenser top construction is carriedin a circular recess or depression or pocket 26 of the top 2| andcomprises a disc 25 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) having its bottom surface 2llined with a gasket 28 of any suitable material which makes tightsealing contact with the bottom of the recess while the upper surface ofthe disc is flush with the upper surface of the topl2l. The disc isrotatable in the pocket 2% and is provided for this purpose with acentrally disposed depending projection or pivot 29 which pivots in anindentation 3| formed in the recess wall of the top 2|.

The recess or pocket 26 and the disc 25 carried therein areeccentrically disposed relative to the top 2i and the geometrical centerof the top is caused to be positioned within the boundary of the recess.About this center a dispensing perforation or opening32 is formed in therecess 26 and is normally covered by the disc25.

For uncovering the dispensing opening32 so as to dispense the containercontents, the disc 25 is in the preferred illustration herein providedwith a circularly arranged group of sifting perforations 33 and a singlecircular pouring perforation 34 which may be selectively brought intoregistration or alined with the perforation or dispensing opening 32 ofthe top recess 26 by rotating the disc about itszp-ivot' 29.

Rotation of the disc 25. is effected by a second movable member orclosure in the top construction which comprises an outer rotatable cupshaped outer closure 35 having a fiat top wall section 37, which in partengages the upper surface of the stationary top 2!. The cover is formedwith a depending flange or wall section 38 which is parallel with androtatably hugs the vertical wall section l9 of the breast l3. The bottommarginal part of this flange is bent under the bottom of the wallsection l9 and into engagement with a portion of the curved wall sectionit for holding the outer closure in place so that it can be rotatedconcentrically around the top 2!. This outer closure 36 is also providedwith a central circular dispensing opening 39, which is in permanentalignment with the circular opening 32. The outer closure 36 also holdsthe disc 25 in the pocket 26 intermediate the outer closure and theinner top 2!.

Rotation of the disc 25 by the closure member 36 is effected by adepending finger, tongue or lug 4| which is struck out from the top wallsection 3'! of the closure. The lug 4! depends through a radial slot 42formed in the disc 25 (Figs. 3 and 4) and terminates in an arcuateclearance groove 43 formed in the bottom wall of the pocket 26. When theouter closure member 36 is rotated on the stationary top 2i the side ofthe slot serves as a cam for the engagement of the lug 4! to revolve thedisc 25 on its axis 29 within the confining pocket 26, said axis beingeccentric to the common longitudinal axis of the container and rotatableactuating closure member 36.

The position of the radial slot 42 in the disc is preferably directlyopposite the sifter perforations 33 so that when the lug 4! isintermediate the extremes of its travel the perforations 33 are inalignment with the dispensing openings 32 and 39, as shown in Fig. 3.When the outer closure 36 is turned clockwise from the position shown inFig. 3 the disc alines the pouring opening 34 with the dispensingopenings 32 and 39, the outer end of the slot 42 acting as a stopagainst which the lug engages for properly alining the perforations.Similarly, when the closure 36 is turned counter-clockwise to theposition shown in Fig. 2 communication between the openings 32 and 38 isentirely cut oil by the unperforated part of the disc 25. The movementof the disc and closure in this direction is also properly limited byengagement of the lug 4| with the outer end of the slot 42.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A dispensing top for a container having in combination, a stationarytop adapted to be attached to a container and having a depressedcircular pocket, a dispensing opening formed in and eccentric to saidpocket, 2. disc seated in said pocket and rotatable therein and havingsifting openings and a closing portion and a slot extending radiallytoward the periphery of said disc, and an outer closure rotatablymounted on said top and formed with a dispensing opening in line withthe path of said sifting openings and closing portion of said disc andhaving a depending finger engaging the slot of the disc, the outer endof said radial slot constituting means for limiting the rotary movementimparted by said outer closure through said finger to said disk in bothdirections to open and close said dispensing opening.

2. A dispensing top for a container having in combination, a stationarytop adapted to be attached to a container and having a depressedcircular pocket, a dispensing opening formed in and eccentric to saidpocket, a disc seated in and pivotally connected with the bottom of saidpocket and rotatable therein and having sifting openings and a closingportion and a radially disposed slot extending toward the periphery ofsaid disc, and an outer closure rotatably mounted on said top and formedwith a dispensing opening in line with the path of said sifting openingsand closing portion of said disc and having a depending finger engagingthe slot of the disc, the outer end of said radial slot constitutingmeans for limiting the rotary movement imparted by said outer closurethrough said finger to said disk in both directions to open and closesaid dispensing opening.

3. A dispensing top for a container having in combination, a stationarytop adapted to be attached to a container and having a depressedcircular pocket, a dispensing opening formed in and eccentric to saidpocket, a disc seated in said pocket and rotatable therein and havingsifting openings and a closing portion and a radially disposed slotextending toward the periphery of said disc, a gasket arranged on theface of said disc, and an outer closure rotatably mounted on said topand formed with a dispensing opening in line with the path of saidsifting openings and closing portion of said disc and having a dependingfinger engaging the slot of the disc, the outer end of said radial slotconstituting means for limiting the rotary movement imparted by saidouter closure through said finger to said disk in both directions toopen and close said dispensing opening.

4. A dispensing top for a container having in combination, a stationarytop adapted to be attached to a container and having a depressedcircular pocket, a dispensing opening formed in and eccentric to saidpocket, a disc seated in said pocket and rotatable therein and havingsifting openings and a closing portion and a slot extending radiallytoward the periphery of said disc, an outer closure rotatably mounted onsaid top and formed with a dispensing opening in line with the path ofsaid sifting openings and closing portion of said disc and having adepending finger engaging the slot of the disc, and an arcuate groove insaid pocket for receiving the lower end of said finger to insurecontinuous driving engagement of said finger with said disc.

JOHN M. HOTHERSALL.

